SE

The operation of an individual indicator is described along with its circuit. Refer to the schematic and test for the circuit that is indicated below each of the indicators.

Fuel Gage

The pointer of the Fuel Gage is moved by the magnetic fields of two coils. The coils are at right angles to each other. Battery voltage is applied to the E coil and the circuit divides at the opposite end of the coil. Another goes to ground through the variable resistor of the Fuel Gage Sender.
When the tank is low, the resistance of the Sender is low. A large flow of current passes through the E coil and the Fuel Gage Sender resistor. This moves the pointer towards E on the scale. When the tank is full, the Sender resistance is high. More current now flows through the F coil, which moves the pointer toward F on the scale.
With two coils operating the pointer, the Gage is not affected by changes in the vehicle's electrical system.

Oil Pressure Gage

The engine oil pressure is displayed by the Oil Pressure Gage. The pointer of the Gage is moved by two coils, and its operation is similar to that of the Fuel Gage.
The Oil Pressure Sender/Switch is connected to the junction of the two coils. It has low resistance when the oil pressure is low, and 90 ohms resistance when the oil pressure is high. This changing resistance changes the current flow through the coils. The magnetic fields of the coils move the pointer from low to high.

Coolant Temperature Gage

The Coolant Temperature Gage is also operated by two coils. Battery voltage is applied to both coils. One is grounded directly and the other is grounded through the Coolant Temperature Sender. This has 55 ohms resistance at 127°C (260°F) an its resistance becomes greater at low temperatures. It is approximately 1400 ohms at 38°C (100°F). This causes the current through the Sender and one coil to increase as the coolant temperature increases. This moves the pointer.

Voltmeter

The Voltmeter measures the electrical system's voltage with the Ignition Switch in RUN, BULB TEST, or START. With the engine stopped, the Voltmeter indicates Battery condition. With the engine running, the Voltmeter indicate Charging System operation.

Speedometer and Odometer

The Speedometer is operated by an electronic circuit. The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS), located in the Transaxle, generates an AC voltage with a frequency proportional to the speed of the vehicle. This goes to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and then to the Speedometer circuit board in the Instrument Cluster. The Solid State unit drives the pointer of the Speedometer.
The same buffered speed signal from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) is processed by the Speedometer circuit board to drive the Odometers. The Odometers are operated by a stepper motor that responds to pulses from the Speedometer circuit.

CHECK OIL Indicator

The CHECK OIL Indicator lights to alert the driver of a low engine oil level condition. The low oil sensing circuit consists of a Low Oil Level Sensor and an Oil Level Module. This system is active only at initial engine starting and not while the engine is running.
The oil level will be measured if the engine has been off long enough for top engine oil to have returned to the pan and if the vehicle is on a fairly level surface. The Oil Level Module receives battery power at all times to retain memory of engine on and off times.
When the Ignition Switch is turned to RUN, battery voltage is applied to the ignition on input of the Oil Level Module, and the Oil Level Module grounds the CHECK OIL Indicator for 2 seconds as a bulb check. If the ignition on input has been at 0 volts for at least 8 minutes and the internal attitude sensor indicates that the vehicle is resting on a surface with an incline of 20 degrees or less, the Oil Level Module activates the Low Oil Level Sensor. If the sensor returns a signal indicating a good oil level signal, the indicator will remain off. If the sensor returns a signal indicating a low oil condition, the indicator is lit 15 to 25 seconds after the bulb check. If the Ignition Switch is turned off for less than 20 seconds, the Oil Level Module will remember and display the previous oil level status and ignore the present oil status. If the ignition has been off for more than 20 seconds, but less than 8 minutes, the Oil Level Module will ignore the Low Oil Level Sensor and perform bulb check only.

WASHER FLUID Indicator

With the washer fluid level low, the washer fluid level switch closes, grounding pin A11 of the Instrument Cluster. The Instrument Cluster lights the WASHER FLUID Indicator and grounds the chime control, sounding a slow, brief chime.

CHECK GAGES Indicator

The Instrument Cluster will light the CHECK GAGES Indicator and will sound a brief chime to indicate a problem condition being displayed on a gage. The CHECK GAGES Indicator will light with any of the following conditions: low oil pressure, low fuel level, high coolant temperature, or high or low voltage.